Economy

US Stocks Rise After Solid April Jobs Data
US Stocks Rise After Solid April Jobs Data

Wall Street stocks rose early Friday, digesting a better than expected US jobs report as Apple shares fell on a hit due to President Donald Trump's tariffs. The world's largest economy added 177,000 jobs last month, down slightly from the level in March but above analyst expectations. “The key takeaway from the report is that the ...

Food Security: Economy Minister Launches Strategic Study With FAO and WFP
Food Security: Economy Minister Launches Strategic Study With FAO and WFP

The Minister of Trade and Economy, Amer Bisat, held talks with representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP), in the presence of the Director General of Cereals and Sugar Beet and the Director of Grain Silos. Discussions focused on the development of a national food security strategy and the ...

Telecoms: Charles Hage Bets on Social Dialogue to Revive the Sector
Telecoms: Charles Hage Bets on Social Dialogue to Revive the Sector

Telecommunications Minister Charles Hage held an extended meeting on Friday with the newly elected board of the mobile telecom employees’ union, in the presence of the management teams from both Alfa and Touch. The meeting addressed employee rights, sector reform, and the need for a model based on merit and productivity. In his remarks, the ...

Ministerial Delegation Heads to Baghdad for Fuel Talks
Ministerial Delegation Heads to Baghdad for Fuel Talks

In light of the ongoing challenges facing Lebanon’s energy sector, a Lebanese ministerial delegation will travel to Baghdad to strengthen cooperation with Iraq. Finance Minister Yassine Jaber and Energy Minister Joe Saddi will be in Baghdad on Monday to revive discussions with Iraqi authorities regarding the supply of fuel to Lebanon’s ...

Sun on the Horizon, Rough Skies Ahead: Summer 2025 Takes Off
Sun on the Horizon, Rough Skies Ahead: Summer 2025 Takes Off

As Lebanon gears up for the 2025 summer tourist season, it looks forward to sunny days but remains wary of potential challenges. With the return of expatriates, regional tensions, Israeli ceasefire violations and an economy seeking stability, the Lebanese tourism sector finds itself navigating turbulent waters. Yet, as the saying goes, “After ...

Lebanon Registers Highest Commercial Electricity Tariffs in Arab World
Lebanon Registers Highest Commercial Electricity Tariffs in Arab World

Lebanon now ranks among the Arab countries with the highest commercial electricity tariffs, according to recent data from the Global Petrol Prices (GPP) website, underscoring the toll of the country’s prolonged energy crisis on its struggling business sector. With a commercial electricity rate of $0.247 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in 2025, Lebanon ...

Marginalizing Women a Major Curb on Afghan Economy: UNDP
Marginalizing Women a Major Curb on Afghan Economy: UNDP

Restrictions on women and girls imposed since the Taliban authorities took power are projected to cost Afghanistan almost six percent of its GDP over two years, the UN development agency country director said on Thursday. Taliban authorities have squeezed women out of education, jobs and public life since 2021, creating what the United Nations ...

Syria Signs 30-Year Port Deal with Shipping Giant CMA CGM
Syria Signs 30-Year Port Deal with Shipping Giant CMA CGM

Syria signed a 30-year contract with French shipping giant CMA CGM to develop and run the port of Latakia, the port's director and a company official said on Thursday. Joseph Dakak, CMA CGM's regional director, told AFP at the signing ceremony the company was «pleased today to announce the signing of an investment and management contract for the ...

GM Cuts 2025 Outlook, Projects up to $5 bn Hit From Tariffs
GM Cuts 2025 Outlook, Projects up to $5 bn Hit From Tariffs

General Motors on Thursday lowered its 2025 earnings outlook and said it expects a $4-5 billion hit from US President Donald Trump's tariffs, despite moves this week to dampen the blow. On Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order to limit the impact of multiple overlapping tariffs on automakers. He also released a proclamation that gives the ...

Parliament Begins Review of the Banking Sector Bill
Parliament Begins Review of the Banking Sector Bill

The Parliamentary Finance and Budget Committee, chaired by MP Ibrahim Kanaan, held a session on Wednesday to begin reviewing the draft law on the reform of the banking sector, recently approved by the government. The meeting was attended by nearly 50 lawmakers, Minister of Finance Yassine Jaber and representatives from the banking ...

Ongoing Crisis in Lebanon: Economic Downturn Continues in 2024
Numbers & FiguresOngoing Crisis in Lebanon: Economic Downturn Continues in 2024

Sharp GDP Contraction Lebanon is now in its sixth consecutive year of economic crisis, with key indicators remaining at their lowest levels, according to the World Economic Outlook (WEO) report published in April 2025 by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). GDP contraction continues, and despite a slight easing of inflation and the current ...

Syria’s Path to Recovery: Can It Outpace Lebanon?
Syria’s Path to Recovery: Can It Outpace Lebanon?

As the Lebanese endure rolling blackouts, relentless crises and a daily reality that often borders on the absurd, a piece of unexpected news has prompted a collective raised eyebrow – or two: Syria might well be rebuilt before Lebanon. Yes, you read that correctly. On Sunday, April 27, in a move as symbolic as it was strategic, Saudi Arabia ...